Today, I sit in my living room (once again, sick as a dog), thinking about both of those posts, and the year that has passed since then. It's only now that I see the irony: in one post so focused on the meaning of specific dates, and then specifically refusing to be defined by the date in the next. I suppose the reality is that it all depends on us ... and on whether we choose to give meaning to a particular day.

There are so many opportunities (or excuses, depending on how you look at it) to reflect on time past: birthdays, anniversaries, new years (school year, fiscal year, Chinese or Jewish new years, etc.) ... or really just any time we're feeling particularly nostalgic. So maybe it's because today marks the end of 2011, or maybe it's ... just because. Whatever the reason, I find myself reflecting upon the past year ... so of course, I'm sharing those thoughts with you.

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Now, now ... don't panic - this is not a religious (or anti-religious) rant. I am not looking to cause controversy, and I am grateful for whatever belief system brings anyone peace of mind, so I would never challenge that. I'm not feeling the ambivalence of last year's Holiday Purple, either. Though this holiday season naturally brings the sadness of missing Gram (really, I feel that loss every day), I'm feeling more festive this holiday season than I have in a while. I finished my shopping early, got our tree decorated in time to put all the presents under it, spent quality time with family for Hanukkah, and I'm now looking forward to our traditional Eve alone and Day with the in-laws tomorrow. I don't have a problem with Christmas (or any other December holiday) or the spirit of the season ... but if you ask me, that "Christmas Spirit" is a bit of a credit hog.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

I had a really good day today (ok, by now it's "yesterday", but I started writing this piece before midnight). It was an emotional roller coaster of a day, but even the low points had highlights. Thinking about that made me realize ... it's time for another list of smiles. So ... without further ado (and in no particular order), here's a list of things that made me smile recently - sometimes even through tears.

I had a really great day with my mom. Sounds simple enough, but it's been a while since we were able to really talk like we did today, to laugh, to cry, and most importantly, to hug.

Over the past week, I "met" (through a facebook site about one of my Relay For Life events) someone who is struggling with a very sick loved one. Though her story made me cry, her faith and her dedication to the cause are inspiring. Most of all, I'm hopeful that we're going to be able to do something to help this family in need.

After a month of questions, tests, drugs and more tests, there is finally some major improvement in my latest medical saga. We're still working on figuring things out, but progress is good!

Went to see The Muppets with hubby the other day ... and it was even better than I expected! Totally took me back to the innocence of childhood, but with emotional moments & outstanding cameos that the adult in me could really appreciate. And of course ...

Monday, December 5, 2011

"The world is divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those who are afraid of people with tattoos." ~Author Unknown

Back when I was teaching, I often gave my students free-association writing assignments. Sometimes they were completely limitless, the only instruction being "just let your mind go wherever your pen takes it." Other times it was more guided, with a given starting point to see where it led them. Every time it was entertaining, and led to some great discussion afterwards.

Once, I asked them to begin by choosing a color, and then writing whatever came next. I asked for volunteers to read theirs aloud, and got some very ... interesting responses. Of course, there were some of the typical associations. Yellow: sun ... sunshine ... summer ... warmth.Blue: sky ... clouds ... having the blues ... sad.Green: grass ... nature ... money ... envy.Red: blood ... tattoos ... freaks. Wait ... what?

Meet the Buttahfly

About Kerry

​I'm a glass-half-full kind of girl. More than that, really - I'm the girl who'll point out that if it's not full, you don't have to worry about spilling your drink every time you pick it up!

I am extremely fortunate to be married to my best friend - the boy next door I had a crush on since I was a child. Though we've been married nearly 17 years, people who meet us still think we’re newlyweds … and in a way, we still are! Through thick and thin, sickness and health, he has been my rock, my anchor, my greatest source of strength and support.

Over the past few years, I've been diagnosed with a number of chronic, autoimmune, and invisible illnesses (see What’s Wrong for the details). Still, I do the best I can to stay positive: this blog is my way of showing those with similar experiences that they are not alone. We may not be able to beat (cure) our diseases, but we can make sure they don’t break our spirits. At the same time, I’m hoping to educate our friends and family – those who want to be there for us, but don’t really understand the extent of our illnesses and how severely they affect us. With a little help, we can get through anything … together.

It's my mission to make a difference in people's lives, and I encourage everyone to do that in whatever way possible. A positive word, a helping hand, a donation (of time or money) to a worthy cause, even a simple but genuine smile can mean the world to someone ... and that someone could be you!

🎶We're Jinglin', Baby!

On December 9, I'll be jingling my bells at the Arthritis Foundation's Jingle Bell Run. Join us if you're in the area ... or support our efforts with a donation. Anything you can do would be greatly appreciated!

The Mighty

I've recently had a number of stories published on The Mighty, an online magazine of sorts for people with chronic illness. View my author page (and published pieces) here.

2017 WEGO Health Awards: Patient Leader Hero (Nominee)

“Sometimes the connections we make in online communities go above and beyond, truly changing our lives for the better.” This award recognizes those Patient Leaders “whose content has opened your eyes to seeing things differently … whose dedication has ignited the advocate within you to make a change … whose work has effected change for their community members. This Patient Leader's influence truly has the impact to make a difference. They're nothing short of a hero.” I am truly honored to be nominated.

I Did It!

Every day in April 2014, WEGO Health provided a prompt, and my posts here reflect my responses to those ideas, in terms of living with chronic illness(es). It was a great experience that inspired me to write more, enabled me to “meet” other bloggers and friends, and empowered us all to share our experiences in a unique and creative way.